The Montreal Canadiens have placed forward Jacob de la Rose on waivers, the team announced Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Swede has yet to appear in a game this year, remaining sidelined following a cardiac episode that occurred in the preseason.

He had since been medically cleared to return to practice.

De la Rose picked up four goals and eight assists in 55 games last season.

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Florida Panthers defenseman Mike Matheson has been handed a two-game suspension for interference and unsportsmanlike conduct on Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Monday.

The play occurred in Saturday's contest between the Panthers and Canucks. Matheson wasn't penalized following the incident.

On Monday, the Canucks confirmed that Pettersson has entered concussion protocol. A report later indicated that he could miss a minimum of seven-to-10 days.

Matheson is eligible to return Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings.

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Vegas Golden Knights center Paul Stastny could be sidelined for the next two months, head coach Gerard Gallant announced Monday.

Stastny suffered a lower-body injury against the Buffalo Sabres last Monday. He was held out of the lineup for Vegas' past three games.

The veteran forward inked a three-year, $19.5-million deal with the Golden Knights in free agency. He hasn't registered a point through three appearances this season.

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Drew Doughty famously negotiated his eight-year, $88-million extension with the Los Angeles Kings in the offseason without the help of an agent, and he apparently picked a solid tactic to land a deal to his liking.

Last offseason, the London, Ontario native admitted his interest in signing with the nearby Maple Leafs. But ahead of Monday's contest against Toronto, the former Norris Trophy winner admitted it was mainly a ploy to get the Kings to pay up.

"I was an L.A. Kings fan since I was a little kid, and I've always wanted to be here. I wanted to show my loyalty to the club and try to stay here forever," Doughty told reporters, per Sportsnet. "I kind of always knew I was going to stay here, but I just said that (Leafs) stuff in the media just to kind of make sure (the Kings) didn't try to screw me."

He added: "I obviously considered (signing with Toronto), but it wasn't like a serious consideration. I had to wait another year - this whole season - before any of that stuff could start happening."

Related - Leafs' Matthews tried to recruit Doughty during ASG: 'He didn't bite'

The 28-year-old defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup champion is one of the game's top blue-liners and would have commanded significant interest had he reached free agency.

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The Colorado Avalanche have claimed forward Marko Dano off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Dano appeared in 23 games with the Jets last season, picking up two goals and one assist. He'd been scratched for all five contests so far this year.

The 23-year-old was selected 27th overall in 2013 by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz left Saturday's game against the Montreal Canadiens following an awkward collision with forward Tomas Plekanec.

Early in the first period, Plekanec bumped Schultz in the corner. The blue-liner then tumbled backward, falling on his ankle. Schultz left the ice with assistance from Pittsburgh's training staff.

Saturday marks just the fourth game of the season for Schultz. In 2017-18, the veteran defenseman appeared in 63 games.

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An arbitrator has reduced Austin Watson's suspension to 18 games, the NHL and NHLPA announced Thursday.

The Nashville Predators forward was originally suspended for 27 games following a no-contest plea to domestic violence.

"Our organization was not involved in the appeal of Austin Watson’s 27-game suspension, but we are aware of its reduction to 18 games," the Predators said in a statement. "As previously stated, our focus has and will continue to be the health and well-being of Austin and his family."

Watson is now eligible to return on Nov. 15 against the Arizona Coyotes.

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Mike Gillis spent six years at the helm of the Vancouver Canucks. Now, the former general manager hopes his next assignment is guiding another Pacific Northwest franchise.

Speaking with TSN 1040 on Wednesday, Gillis expressed interest in becoming the first GM in Seattle - should the city's NHL expansion bid be granted.

"If they flattered me enough by asking if I was interested, I'd be most definitely interested," Gillis told TSN 1040, per Harrison Mooney of the Province. "I'm hopeful to have a discussion with them."

Gillis, who was dismissed by the Canucks in 2014, has since spent two seasons as a director with Geneve-Servette of the Swiss National League.

During his stint in Vancouver, Gillis' squads captured five division titles while also setting franchise highs in wins and points. It culminated with a trip to Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

As for Seattle, the city could officially be awarded a franchise at December's board of governors meeting.

Former Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett, who is an advisor to Seattle's hopeful ownership group, has indicated the GM search will begin in the spring.

"(The) general manager I think is somebody who has done that job at the NHL level before," Tippett said in September. "I really think that's important in an expansion team."

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Could the NHL have its sights set on a second team in Texas?

While recent expansion talk has centered on the success of the Vegas Golden Knights and the pending entry of a Seattle-based team, at least one member of the NHL's executive committee sees unearthed value in bringing a team to Houston.

"I look at where we can make the greatest impressions and have the most effectiveness," Boston Bruins owner and NHL executive committee chairman Jeremy Jacobs told 98.5 The Sports Hub. "Clearly the one area that is missing is Houston because that's such a great city."

Jacobs did not indicate whether he thinks the NHL should enter Houston through expansion or relocation, but added, "We don't have any really poor cities anymore. They're continuing to flourish."

It's not the first time Jacobs has shared his admiration for Houston, particularly when compared to another oft-discussed expansion market in Quebec City.

"You look at Houston and you look at (Quebec), it's the fifth largest city in North America versus the 105th, let's say, so they have a different situation there," Jacobs said in May.

Meanwhile, Tilman Feritta, a Texas billionaire who bought the NBA's Houston Rockets for $2.2 billion in September 2017, hasn't been shy in expressing his interest in bringing the NHL to Houston. He's even met with the NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss Houston's suitability as an NHL market.

"I'm very interested in the possibility of bringing the NHL to Houston, but it will have to be a deal that works for my organization, the city, fans of the NHL throughout the region, and the NHL Board of Governors," Fertitta said in November 2017.

Houston has previously played home to two pro hockey teams: the AHL's Aeros from 1994 to 2013 and a World Hockey Association franchise by the same moniker from 1972 to 1978.

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An afternoon contest Monday between the New York Islanders and the visiting San Jose Sharks drew a sparse crowd of just 8,790 to the Barclays Center, according to Arthur Staple of The Athletic.

It marked the lowest-ever turnout to an Isles home game since the team moved to Brooklyn in 2015. Poor ice conditions, challenging commutes, and obstructed views have continued to plague the fan base.

The Islanders finished with the NHL's lowest average attendance last season, coming in at just 12,002. The Barclays Center holds 15,795.

The franchise hopes to combat its attendance woes this year by splitting its home games between Barclays Center (21 games) and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (20 games). Plans are also in place to build a new arena in Belmont Park, which is just east of New York City. Arena construction will begin in 2019.

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